Roni Stoneman
Encyclopedia
Veronica Loretta "Roni" Stoneman (born May 5, 1938) is a noted bluegrass banjo player and former member of the Hee Haw
gang having played the role of Ida Lee Nagger, the ironing, nagging wife of Laverne Nagger (Gordie Tapp
).
She is the youngest daughter of Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman
, patriarch of the Stoneman Family, one of the most famous family groups in early country music. Drawing on his Southern Appalachian heritage, Pop Stoneman realized as early as 1924 the commercial potential of traditional music, and carved a career from it. That year, he wrote country music’s first million-dollar seller, "The Sinking of the Titanic." The Stoneman Family won the Country Music Academy’s "Vocal Group of the Year Award" in 1967
. After Pop’s death a year later, Roni Stoneman, known as a virtuoso banjo player in both country music and bluegrass, pursued a musical career on her own.
In the 1970s, Roni reached a national audience when she joined the cast of Hee Haw
, the most successful syndicated program and country music show in the history of television. She picked banjo and sang from time to time, but it was the character of Ida Lee Nagger that made her unforgettable to millions of viewers. She was so recognizable as Ida Lee, that she would also do other skits, including "Pfft! You were Gone!" as Ida Lee, who by this time, had become a man-crazy flirt, notably in the later Hee Haw Honky Tonk, where she would be chasing men with a net.
Roni continues to entertain at numerous state and county fairs each year, and recent appearances include the UCLA Folk Festival, the Florida State Fair
and the International Sport Show in Canada. Her CD, "First Lady of Banjo," features various members of the Stoneman family.
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
gang having played the role of Ida Lee Nagger, the ironing, nagging wife of Laverne Nagger (Gordie Tapp
Gordie Tapp
Gordon Robert "Gordie" Tapp, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian entertainer.Tapp studied at the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts. He was the host for Main Street Jamboree, a radio program broadcast from Hamilton during the 1950s. Tapp later hosted the CBC television show Country Hoedown...
).
She is the youngest daughter of Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman
Ernest Stoneman
Ernest Van "Pop" Stoneman ranked among the prominent recording artists of country music's first commercial decade.-Biography:...
, patriarch of the Stoneman Family, one of the most famous family groups in early country music. Drawing on his Southern Appalachian heritage, Pop Stoneman realized as early as 1924 the commercial potential of traditional music, and carved a career from it. That year, he wrote country music’s first million-dollar seller, "The Sinking of the Titanic." The Stoneman Family won the Country Music Academy’s "Vocal Group of the Year Award" in 1967
1967 in music
The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The...
. After Pop’s death a year later, Roni Stoneman, known as a virtuoso banjo player in both country music and bluegrass, pursued a musical career on her own.
In the 1970s, Roni reached a national audience when she joined the cast of Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
, the most successful syndicated program and country music show in the history of television. She picked banjo and sang from time to time, but it was the character of Ida Lee Nagger that made her unforgettable to millions of viewers. She was so recognizable as Ida Lee, that she would also do other skits, including "Pfft! You were Gone!" as Ida Lee, who by this time, had become a man-crazy flirt, notably in the later Hee Haw Honky Tonk, where she would be chasing men with a net.
Roni continues to entertain at numerous state and county fairs each year, and recent appearances include the UCLA Folk Festival, the Florida State Fair
Florida State Fair
The Florida State Fair is held annually at the bugger Florida State Fairgrounds near Tampa. The official state fair of Florida, it includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, rides and shows. It is a chance for the state to showcase its agricultural industry. The Fair also offers competitions and food...
and the International Sport Show in Canada. Her CD, "First Lady of Banjo," features various members of the Stoneman family.